Less than 24 hours after three men were found dead in a vacant Putnam County home, authorities arrested a suspect in the triple homicide.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, 28-year-old Duane Demaris Crittendon II was arrested Sunday morning and charged with multiple counts of murder.

Saturday morning, the bodies of Jerome Anthony Henry, 48, Richard David Smith and Robert Erwin Ford, both 50, were found in the 100 block of Carver Street.

According to sheriff's spokesman Maj. Keith Riddick, the men's bodies were found inside a building that had been licensed as a neighborhood tavern but was closed down several years ago.

In recent years, the building, which is in a residential neighborhood just outside Palatka, was used as a late-night hangout where people gathered to play pool on the lone pool table inside or play cards or talk, Riddick said.

The three victims were killed, and then robbed, while apparently playing in a ?high stakes? game of poker, according to the sheriff's office.

"It was a high stakes card game with thousands of dollars involved. (Crittendon) was at this game Friday evening. The game went throughout the night. We understand that he likely lost a lot of money, left, came back early in the morning on Saturday and the game was still continuing. Somewhere around 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. Saturday he made a life-changing decision," said Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly.

According to authorities, Smith and Henry died after each was shot once in the head, and Ford died after being shot twice in the head and stabbed multiple times. Investigators said they recovered a knife and gun they believe were used in the killings.

The first autopsy was expected to begin Sunday.

A statement released by the sheriff's office stated that an investigation into the slayings led to witness testimony and physical evidence, which deputies said links Crittenden to the crimes.

Crittenden was taken into custody shortly before 5:30 a.m. in a joint effort of Marion County and Putnam County authorities.

"Once we tracked him to Marion County, we talked to the sheriff there and he activated his detectives and his SWAT team. We located a hotel, where the suspect was located. We went there and he was not there at the time. We had a dozen of our detectives down there. They had a lot of their detectives out and stayed on it. We received more tips. About 5:20 this morning we started walking the streets of Ocala and he was picked up ? and placed under arrested," Kelly said.

The suspect was found walking in the 2200 block of South Pine Avenue in Ocala and was arrested without incident.

Crittenden is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

It was not immediately clear if Crittenden had an attorney.

Palatka is about 40 miles northeast of Ocala and about 80 miles north of Orlando.